Kansas: Advocates fight to block death penalty bill

Topeka  The Kansas Coalition Against the Death Penalty is campaigning against legislation limiting the time allowed for appeals of capital punishment convictions.

The state Senate approved a bill last month setting a limit of three years and six months for the Kansas Supreme Court to hear and decide an appeal of a death penalty conviction. There is currently no time limit.

Critics of the bill contend the change would increase the chance of an innocent person being executed. Supporters say death penalty appeals take too long for the state to complete under the current structure.

Members of the Coalition Against the Death Penalty scheduled a news conference Wednesday ahead of a House committee hearing on the proposal.

Kansas reinstated the death penalty in 1994 but has not carried out any executions.